Latest news with #MLBCareers
Axios
22-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
MLB removes references to "diversity" from careers home page
Major League Baseball has removed the word "diversity" from its MLB Careers home page in reaction to President Trump's executive order ending "equal opportunity" for people of color and women in recruiting. Why it matters: MLB's retreat makes it the latest entity to pull back on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices amid threats of legal action from the Trump administration. The big picture: Trump's Justice Department is using a broad reinterpretation of Civil Rights-era laws to focus on " anti-white racism" rather than discrimination against people of color. Zoom in: The removal of the references was first reported by the website and confirmed by The Associated Press. The change appears to affect MLB's Diversity Pipeline Program, which Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred launched in 2016. What they're saying:"Our values on diversity remain unchanged," MLB said in a statement Friday, per the AP. "We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward." He said the change came after an owners' meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, last month. Zoom out: The removal came days after the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs kicked off the major league season this week in Tokyo and as MLB's official Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday. It also comes amid an expected travel ban by the Trump administration on more than three dozen countries. The ban could prevent some MLB players from Cuba and Venezuela from coming into — or leaving — the U.S. The intrigue: MLB is also preparing to mark its annual Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, when every player and on-field personnel will wear his No. 42 during scheduled games.
The Guardian
22-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Major League Baseball removes ‘diversity' from careers page after executive order
Major League Baseball removed references to 'diversity' from its MLB Careers home page following an executive order by US president Donald Trump that could lead to possible federal action against organizations using DEI programs in violation of his administration's interpretation of civil rights law. 'Our values on diversity remain unchanged,' MLB said in a statement Friday. 'We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward.' The removal of the references was first reported by the website Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who launched a Diversity Pipeline Program in 2016, said following an owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, last month that MLB was evaluating the interpretation of law coming from the federal government. 'Our values, particularly our values on diversity, remain unchanged, but another value that is pretty important to us is we always try to comply with what the law is,' he said. 'There seems to be an evolution going on here. We're following that very carefully. Obviously, when things get a little more settled, we'll examine each of our programs and make sure that while the values remain the same that we're also consistent with what the law requires.'
Chicago Tribune
22-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Major League Baseball removes references to ‘diversity' from MLB Careers home page following executive order
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball removed references to 'diversity' from its MLB Careers home page following an executive order by President Donald Trump that could lead to possible federal action against organizations using DEI programs in violation of his administration's interpretation of civil rights law. 'Our values on diversity remain unchanged,' MLB said in a statement Friday. 'We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward.' The removal of the references was first reported by journalist Craig Calcaterra on his newsletter website MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who launched a Diversity Pipeline Program in 2016, said after an owners meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., last month that MLB was evaluating the interpretation of law coming from the federal government. 'Our values, particularly our values on diversity, remain unchanged, but another value that is pretty important to us is we always try to comply with what the law is,' he said. 'There seems to be an evolution going on here. We're following that very carefully. Obviously, when things get a little more settled, we'll examine each of our programs and make sure that while the values remain the same that we're also consistent with what the law requires.'
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Major League Baseball removes references to `diversity' from MLB Careers home page
Major League Baseball removed references to "diversity' from its MLB Careers home page following an executive order by President Donald Trump that could lead to possible federal action against organizations using DEI programs in violation of his administration's interpretation of civil rights law. 'Our values on diversity remain unchanged," MLB said in a statement Friday. "We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward.' The removal of the references was first reported by the website Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, who launched a Diversity Pipeline Program in 2016, said following an owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, last month that MLB was evaluating the interpretation of law coming from the federal government. 'Our values, particularly our values on diversity, remain unchanged, but another value that is pretty important to us is we always try to comply with what the law is,' he said. "There seems to be an evolution going on here. We're following that very carefully. Obviously, when things get a little more settled, we'll examine each of our programs and make sure that while the values remain the same that we're also consistent with what the law requires.' ___
New York Times
21-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
MLB ‘evaluating' Diversity Pipeline Program, strikes DEI references from its website
In February, amidst an onslaught of executive orders from President Donald Trump aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred pledged to keep the league's values on diversity 'unchanged.' But about a month later, the MLB Careers home page is devoid of any reference to 'diversity.' Details regarding the league's once-lauded Diversity Pipeline Program, which began as a means to combat the lack of diversity within MLB's front offices, seem to have been entirely wiped from the site, too. Advertisement 'As the commissioner stated, our values on diversity remain unchanged. We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward,' an MLB spokesman said in a statement to The Athletic. MLB added that Tyrone Brooks, who has led the program since its inception in 2016, remains in that post. However, the link to apply for the program no longer appears on the program's landing page. The changes to MLB's website were first reported by Craig Calcaterra. Manfred created the Diversity Pipeline Program to increase the pool of minority and female candidates for baseball operations departments across all 30 clubs and the league office. 'The Diversity Pipeline Program will serve as our game's key initiative towards attracting top talent, hiring qualified candidates and developing careers,' he said in 2016. The Diversity Pipeline Program has resulted in over 400 assisted hires. However, the departures of Kim Ng (Miami Marlins), Farhan Zaidi (San Francisco Giants) and Kenny Williams (Chicago White Sox) have left some within the game increasingly concerned about the lack of diversity in MLB front offices. In October 2023, America First Legal, the conservative non-profit group led by Trump ally Stephen Miller, filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against MLB for racially discriminatory programs. One of the four programs referenced in the complaint was the MLB's Diversity Pipeline Program. Manfred told reporters at the February owners' meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., 'Our values on diversity remain unchanged, but another value that is pretty important to us is, we always try to comply with what the law is.' Advertisement 'There seems to be an evolution going on here. We're following that very carefully,' he added. 'When things get a little more settled we'll examine each of our programs and make sure that, while the values remain the same, that we're also consistent with what the law requires.' By using the Internet Archive, which digitally preserves older versions of web pages, The Athletic tracked when changes were made to MLB's website. As of Friday afternoon, the MLB Careers home page contained no use of the word 'diversity.' The tab on the far right of the MLB Careers home page, which used to read 'Diversity & Inclusion,' now only contains the latter. It was modified sometime between Feb. 25 and March 4. If one were to click on that particular tab, the now-archived page displays a description of the league's Diversity Pipeline Program offerings, from a three-day baseball analytics conference to a scouting and coaching development program. The page, last captured on Nov. 18, also references the contributions of MLB's 'Diversity and Inclusion Department' and the Buck O'Neil Professional Baseball Scouts and Coaches Association, which supports the scouting and coaching program. It also directs interested applicants to apply. At the top left corner alongside the MLB logo, the phrase Diversity, Equity & Inclusion sat in bold lettering. Next to it, a series of tabs line the top of the page, which read 'Workforce Diversity,' 'DEI Initiatives' and 'Diverse Business Partners.' That same page no longer includes the word 'diversity.' Now, the MLB logo sits alone and those same tabs read 'Workforce Inclusivity,' 'Initiatives' and 'Business Partners.' Evan Martin, now a game preparation specialist for the Milwaukee Brewers, participated in the Diversity Pipeline Program back in 2022. 'It was literally the greatest experience ever for my career,' he told The Athletic on his way to a spring training game Thursday. Advertisement 'There were a lot of nights just hanging out, talking about the games that we had watched, but then also sharing things that I have gone through as a Black male in this industry that maybe only another Black male is able to relate to,' he said. 'I think that's a huge bonus of that program, because a lot of the time we go to the ballpark, and I'm the only Black guy there sometimes if I'm scouting a game.' Martin said it would be a 'shame' if the program were to be discontinued. — The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli contributed to this report. (Photo of Rob Manfred by Bob Levey / Getty Images)
